Kentucky freshman guard Ashton Hagans has been named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year (along with Tremont Waters of LSU) and All-Defensive team by the league coaches.

Hagans’ impact on the defensive end of the floor changed Kentucky’s season in December and January. The UK freshman tied a school record with 8 steals in a December win vs. North Carolina, the Wildcats first signature win of the season.

Hagans 1.8 steals per game is ranks third in the SEC and eighth nationally among all freshman. During a three week stretch, he recorded at least three steals in seven straight games.

One could argue that Hagans changed the direction of the team with his defensive effort in early SEC play. In that stretch, Hagans posted a career night with 23 points in his homecoming on the road at Georgia.

In addition to his steals, Hagans leads the Wildcats and ranked seventh in the SEC with 4.2 assists per game. He’s a Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist.

About the author /

Shawn Smith is a graduate of Lincoln Memorial University, where he earned a degree in elementary education. He currently resides in Middlesboro, Kentucky and is a credentialed media member at the University of Kentucky. Smith founded and published Go Big Blue Country in November 2016. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @gbbcountry or reach him via email at gobigbluecountry@gmail.com